MOROCCAN national, Ayoub Kabli, resident in Trinidad for 16 years, shot dead a gunman who tried to rob him at his business on Henry Street, Port-of-Sp...

MOROCCO-BORN businessman Ayoub Kabli, 47, who on Thursday shot and killed an armed robber at a carpark opposite Kabli’s Port-of-Spain businessplace, yesterday said if ever he is faced with such a life-and-death situation again, he would react exactly the way he did.

Asked if he would close up shop and head back to Morocco, Kabli, 47, told Newsday that he is a Trini, he married a Trinidad woman and this country is, “my home.”

On Thursday, at about 9.15 am, Kabli of Glencoe was walking toward his vehicle in the car park when Lyndon Emerson Marshall, 44, of La Brea pointed a revolver at Kabli and announced a robbery. Kabli whipped out his licenced pistol and quickly fired three shots at Marshall, killing him instantly.

Speaking outside his businessplace, Royal Pacific Wholesale and Retail Grocery and Accessories at Henry Street, Kabli said he is a law-abiding citizen who does not scare easily. “I did what I was trained to do and that is, to use my firearm to protect my life. If I am faced with another situation like that...yes I will react the same way,” Kabli said.

Kabli said that since the incident, he has taken a decision to exercise more caution at his businessplace and when walking toward his vehicle.

Later on yesterday, Kabli was greeted by National Security Minister Jack Warner, who decided to leave the Police Caravan at the Brian Lara Promenade and go to the carpark where Marshall was shot dead on Thursday.

“Businessmen have no cause to fear. You will see high visibility of police, you will see more security on the ground,” Warner assured Kabli and other businessmen who had gathered.

Kabli thanked Warner for taking the time to visit him and said the policemen who dealt with him on Thursday following the shooting, were both professional and courteous.

“Thank you so much. I appreciate your presence and I’m very honoured as well. The police were very, very good. They treated me very well and were here within minutes (of the shooting). I have confidence in you, that you will do a good job as Minister of National Security,” Kabli told Warner.

Warner later said he arranged a meeting for next Monday with members of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), to develop a crime-fighting plan specific to PoS.

“I came here to show solidarity and give him (Kabli) my assurance that Government is on his and other businessmen’s side. My ministry is on his side. I asked to meet with DOMA on Monday to craft a plan for the city which we shall then carry to the Commissioner of Police,” Warner stated.

“Businessmen, wherever they are...these guys are under attack. They are under siege and we have to relieve them of this situation,” Warner said. DOMA president Gregory Aboud said he welcomed Warner’s impromptu visit to the scene of Thursday’s shooting.

“We like the rest of the community, have a strong sense of the urgency that is required to deal with what is facing this country, particularly in the area of violent crime,” Aboud said.

“The country is in desperate need of some intervention on the issue of people being safe when they go to their cars, their businesses, the grocery or when they are simply sitting in their homes with their families,” Aboud said adding that businessmen and DOMA are ready and willing to work with Warner on the issue of fighting crime.